Obstacle to democracy in the future?? Electoral College Vestige of the past?? Curse of the present?? Obstacle to democracy in the future??

Vestige of the past--Historical Context 13 States in disarray; suspicious of strong central government and one another, yet in need of a strong central government to survive. Approximately 4,000,000 people spread length of Eastern Seaboard. Poor communications and transportations. National election impractical. General disdain for political parties, necessary to run national campaign. Constitutional Convention delegates had to sell this back to the states they were taking power from.

Some options they considered. . . Parliamentary System Too much like England State Legislatures Select Federalism at it’s MOST POWERFUL Have Congress select the president (parliament-type power). Have state legislatures select president. President elected by a direct popular vote. Overwhelmingly rejected! Believed to be the worst of all choices. No Please! Direct democracy Voice of the Poor, Landless Masses

Second Attempt spurred by 1800 Presidential Election First attempt lasted four presidential elections. Political parties emerged during this time. Presidential Election of 1800 ends in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (both Democratic-Republicans). The House of Representatives went through 36 votes and serious political arm twisting. This type of bargaining was what the electoral college was supposed to prevent!

12th Amendment Adopted 1804 Requires that each Elector cast one vote for President and a separate vote for Vice President. If no one receives majority, House of Reps selects from among the top three contenders with each state getting one vote. Majority required. Senate would choose V. Pres from top two contenders—majority needed.

Electoral College 2016 Winner-take-all system. Presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes (plurality not majority) wins all electors! Custom of each party submitting a “slate of electors.” These electors are technically who you are voting for. The candidate’s name now implies these people.

How it works Voters go to polls and cast vote for presidential/vice presidential ticket (vote for a team) Votes are tallied in each state. Whoever wins a plurality of votes in the state wins all electoral votes in that state. Two exceptions—Maine and Nebraska. A candidate must get 270 out of 538 to win the presidency. If not, the House of Representatives chooses.

Curse of the present? Now swing states real power brokers and others are largely ignored  WA, OR, CA, TX, etc… 2012 Swing States: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, & Wisconsin. 2016 Swing State Map

Power shifts…

What’s wrong with this picture? 1. Possibility of a electoral college President but not popular vote president (Gore v. Bush 2000 & 3 other times in history) "faithless electors" no federal law requires electors to vote the way they are supposed to. Some states have laws that punish faithless electors, but not all. States in red have laws that punish faithless electors.

Other Issues: 3rd Parties Aiyson Kennedy Socialist Workers Party Gary Johnson Libertarian Party Small state voters proportionately overrepresented. (Ie. Wyoming with about 500,000 people has 3 Electoral votes (1 per 166,666 people); California with 33 million people has now 55 electoral votes ( 1 per 600,000 people) Small states ridiculously overrepresented if election goes to House (Ie. Wyoming having equal vote to California). Inhibits development of third parties. No proportionality whatsoever of representation. Presidents can win without majority of popular vote—have only plurality. (In 20th Century: Clinton 92, Nixon 68, JFK 60, Truman 48, Wilson 12 & 16) Jill Stein Green Party Darrell Castle Constitution Party